Antimicrobial susceptibility of Bordetella pertussis strains isolated from 1960 to 1981

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacterial Pathogenesis
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough.
• Monitoring antibiotic resistance is crucial for effective treatment of pertussis.
• Previous studies indicated varying susceptibility patterns in Bordetella pertussis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the antibiotic susceptibility of Bordetella pertussis strains isolated over a 21-year period.
• To identify any temporal changes in resistance to key antimicrobial agents.

Main Methods:

• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 100 Bordetella pertussis isolates.
• Isolates were collected between 1960 and 1981.
• Susceptibility was assessed against erythromycin, rifampin, polymyxin B, ampicillin, tetracycline, gentamicin, fusidic acid, trimethoprim, and spectinomycin.

Main Results:

• No significant changes in susceptibility were observed for any of the tested antibiotics.
• All 100 strains maintained consistent susceptibility profiles throughout the study period.
• Erythromycin, rifampin, and tetracycline showed continued efficacy against these Bordetella pertussis strains.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic susceptibility of Bordetella pertussis remained stable from 1960 to 1981.
• This suggests a lack of emerging resistance to major antibiotics during this era.
• Continued surveillance is important to detect future shifts in antimicrobial resistance patterns.